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Measures to Support Elderly Ex-convicts in Japan - Review of Recent Public
Literature

1
C. Suzuki and A. Yamashita 2

2
1 School of Nursing, Himeji University, Japan, and Faculty of Medicine/School of Health Sciences,
Kagoshima University, Japan

Background: In 2022, there were 39,144 arrests of the elderly, an annual decrease of 5.1%. However, the
elderly account for 23.1% of Japan’s incarcerated. After prison, elderly people face various difficulties
reintegrating into society, and have a high recidivism rate (48.6%).

Objective: To examine methods and issues related to the support of elderly ex-prisoners as they
re-enter society.

Methods: The following references were used:
1) 2023 White Paper on Crime (Legal Research Institute, Ministry of Justice), 2) 2023 White Paper on
Aging Society (Cabinet Office), 3) 2020 Guidebook for Offender Rehabilitation Support Centers, and 4)
2023 Community Living Promotion Project (Social Support Bureau)

Results: Each prefecture has an Offender Rehabilitation Support Center that supports ex-convicts.
The main services are: 1) Assisting those released in their return to society; 2) Advising facilities that accept
ex-prisoners; 3) Coordinating welfare services and ongoing assistance; 4) Individual support for the elderly
or disabled; 5) Cooperating with criminal justice-related organizations and local welfare services; 6)
Improving support skills; and 7) Conducting training and public awareness for local residents.

The following issues need to be addressed: 1) The parole/rehabilitation system has become prolonged,
requiring not only the Offender Rehabilitation Support Center but also public/private sector collaboration
and cooperation among multidisciplinary organizations; 2) The lack of a community-wide support system;
Poster Presentation Abstracts
and 3) The increase of those with mental disorders (15.3%), requiring cooperation between medical
institutions and public health centers.

Conclusion: Since 2009, there has been increased cooperation between the judiciary and various
community corrections stakeholders, with new roles and functions developed into the system since
then. However, there are many challenges that hinder these efforts. It is suggested to further
investigate those issues using case studies.

Keywords: ex-convicts, social support, reintegration into society, prison release, offender rehabilitation,
elderly ex-prisoners

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Correspondence: Ayako Yamashita, Faculty of Medicine / School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima
University, Japan
E-mail: aya-yama@health.nop.kagoshima-u.ac.jp

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